COMPLAINT AND RESPONSE
Below is the letter I received regarding the financing needed on my property. This lady apparently felt the need to give me a piece of her mind and call my morals into judgement. Although, I personally can't imagine making these types of comments to another human being... especially not knowing them personally, nor their situation, it really struck a nerve with me and I felt compelled to reply. My response is rather lengthy and also provided below.
Please check out my "Rental Disaster" photo album to see what landlords contend with and why we set seemingly harsh rules.
If any other landlords care to respond and share your experiences, so that this lady and others like here, can gain a better understanding as to where we're coming from, I'd be more than happy to post your replies and photos here.
Please check out my "Rental Disaster" photo album to see what landlords contend with and why we set seemingly harsh rules.
If any other landlords care to respond and share your experiences, so that this lady and others like here, can gain a better understanding as to where we're coming from, I'd be more than happy to post your replies and photos here.
HER EMAIL
dustinzgirl@xxxxxxx
Comment You know, with the amount of homeless FAMILIES in this county, and the amount of time you have spent saying how you refuse to rent your home or let anyone with less than perfect credit to purchase it, I hope that you don't think of yourself as any kind of good person, spiritual person, or really anything more than a snide, greedy person. Your entire posting is just rude and every time I see it my heart sinks for society and Christianity. Why don't you sell it to HADCO or donate it to Umpqua Community Development Corp? Rita Rita |
MY RESPONSE
Wow... "Not good, not spiritual, greedy, snide and rude". I'm sorry you feel that way, Rita. Despite my best intentions, I can't seem to win. I just hope that a Christian woman such as yourself will be willing to listen to my side before condemning me forever.
My intent was not to be rude. My first web page and post was much more upbeat, but I was inundated with people wanting to rent or wanting me to carry a contract with no money down and I spent a lot of time responding to these requests. It's understandable in this economy, but it just wasn't feasible, so I added firmer wording. Buyers continued to ask, so I assumed I was not being clear and attempted yet again to be very concise and clarify why I was not able to finance or rent. I wasn't trying to be mean or "snide". I don't feel it's right to waste someone's time by sugar coating something if a deal simply can't work. I was hoping that they could move on to another home seller that was local to Oregon that at least had the possibility of working with them. I prefer someone to be up front and honest with me and I thought that's what I was doing, but the intent can obviously be misconstrued by someone when simply reading the words. For the most part I now get responses from buyers who know exactly what my needs are. I still get an occasional email from those who present "owner carry" and rental offers, but they always get a personal response from me along with an explanation, as well as alternatives they may not have considered. They've always been very kind and thanked me for the suggestions.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am simply not the person you're describing. I owned rentals in Oregon for 20+ years. I was the landlord that gave everyone a break... even at my own expense. As long as I broke even I was content. I gave people the benefit of the doubt. I trusted every new tenant and was willing to give them a chance, despite their situations and even when prior renters took advantage again and again. Even now that I no longer have rentals, I still try to donate my time to help charitable organizations. I'm not out to make a dollar any way I can, as you insinuate in your letter. I believe in giving back. I don't mind not making money, but I can't afford to keep losing money.
Believe me. I wish I could afford to give a house away. It would make things a whole lot simpler. As it is, I'm taking a huge loss after the repossessions, so the "greed" you mention does not even enter into the equation. I just want to recoup what I can so I can meet my own monthly expenses. If I were local, I might very well rent it out again, but I simply can't afford to fly to Oregon from New York and fix it up each time someone moves out, nor keep up on the maintenance that an older home requires. And working part time, I simply don't have the funds to have someone else do the work either. I go further into debt each month as I cover the taxes, insurance and utilities, but from past experience I know that renting it out would cost me much more. I truly wish there were an alternative, but unfortunately times are hard for everyone. What I won't do is make this someone else's problem. I do take responsibility for my own issues in life and I don't feel a sense of entitlement that someone else should need to bail me out. That attitude is all too prevalent in society today and I believe it to be a primary cause for our country's demise.
I'm hoping that someone local, who is capable of fixing houses, will be able to buy it at a price they couldn't normally afford at traditional house prices. They could then make it available as a rental for a lesser price (because they bought it so cheaply) or use it as a starter home for themselves and their family. I'm not at all opposed to someone else benefiting from putting in a little work and taking advantage of the equity that I'm not able to recover myself because of my distance from Oregon. I'm not sure as to what HADCO is, but I'd be happy to research it and see if it's a possible option.
I only wish you could have seen these homes when they were returned to me before you chose to judge me so harshly. I had put my heart and soul into these homes to make them cute and affordable, so that several less fortunate families could have a homes of their own... something they'd not have been able to afford if they'd had to rely on a bank for financing, because they didn't have great credit. These homes were completely trashed within just a couple of years. Like yours, my heart broke. I questioned where people's self respect and values had gone... let alone common courtesy and taking responsibility for their own actions. How could they do this to me when I'd been trying to help them?
I didn't deserve to scrape glue from the walls or to paint over foul four letter words covering every wall in the home when the tenant was upset by an upcoming divorce. I didn't deserve to pull up carpets and flooring due to urine and feces being caked into them. I didn't deserve to find walls covered in mildew because they chose not to allow heat into certain rooms. I didn't deserve to replace walls that had holes punched in them or doors that been ripped apart by pets being confined to bedrooms. I didn't deserve to replace 75% of the exterior windows that were busted out. I didn't deserve to have to clean up a 6 foot towers of garbage, laden with mice and maggots... garbage that was simply tossed out the back door. I didn't deserve to clean up after a cigarette fire that destroyed two rooms, nor to have to rebuild an entire home from scratch when it was burned to the ground and deemed "suspicious" by the fire marshall. Nor did I deserve to pay $15,000 when someone decided to use one of my rentals as a meth lab. Nor did I deserve to have brand new plumbing ripped out when a tenant was mad because the police found her dealing drugs from her bedroom window in the home we'd rented to her for her child daycare business. Did I mention she threw nails in the driveway when she left? Four out of my last 5 tenants each left owing more than a thousand dollars in back rent and many hundreds (if not thousands) more in damage. I could easily go on for pages. I believed each and every one of their honest faces when they moved in. I checked references. I've attached just a few pics from these houses. There are thousands more. Yes... THOUSANDS.
I wish you could smell the utter stench that accompanied these homes. Please.... I beg you.... please tell me how these people were the victim here?! Please explain to me how I'm being greedy and petty by asking for a larger down payment to cover potential damages. You seem to have an illusion that these homes are a gold mine for me and that I'm lining my closets with my ill gained millions. I guarantee that every dollar made has gone back into these homes... and then some. These tenants and buyers will never be held accountable and it's a crying shame because they know they can get away with it and will continue to do so.... making it more difficult for truly good families to find housing. And yes, I did have a few good tenants along the way. They were worth their weight in gold and I'm happy to sing their praises to anyone who is willing to listen, but I'm not kidding when I tell you that they were the very small minority. I did my 20 years of "good deeds" and I'm glad there's others such as yourself who are willing to step up and take over, but I would not wish the life of a landlord on anyone. Unfortunately, it's a sad fact that it will unquestioningly leave one more cynical regarding the state of humanity. That breaks my heart as well, because I truly want to believe that people are inherently good.
It sounds as though you have found a comfortable place in this economy and for that you are truly blessed. You mention spirituality and Christianity in your note. One lesson my parents instilled in me was not to judge others. That is God's job and His alone. I am good with my God and the fact that you've tried to lessen that relationship really struck a cord and made me question your own Christian spirit. My husband said to ignore your letter, and I probably should have, but I felt wrongly accused and judged. It shouldn't have mattered, but it still hurt my feelings because I have none of the malice you allude to. I'm hoping that the intent in your note may have been interpreted more harshly than you intended as well.
Please, be kind. I ask that you look to understand another's experiences and motives before rushing to judgement. I truly hope that you will find greater compassion and empathy for others as you go through life.
Teresa
Matthew 7:1-5:
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged
James 4:11-12
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Romans 14:1-13 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
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RESPONSES RECEIVED TO THE LETTER ABOVE
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Thanks for the kind words about my website. I LOVE designing them :-) Like you, I bought more than half of our 11 homes on owner contracts as well. I also feel very fortunate that people were willing to take a chance on me and that's probably why I wanted to do that for someone else. But... quite simply, some people have integrity and others don't. I completely understand people falling on hard times and if they needed to return the home... no problem. It's just the condition in which they came back to me that floored me. I would NEVER have allowed this to happen to my own home, let alone someone else's, especially someone kind enough to give me a break. I still have one house that I sold on a contract to my previous tenants in Glide and they have been absolutely wonderful. You just never know which ones are going to let you down. I'm sorry you had to sell your properties and hope that your health is better now. In fact it sounds as though your heart is stronger than mine if you're considering rentals again! :-) However, I can relate. I cannot stay away from the real estate websites. Even here in NY, I'm always looking for "good buys". Real estate is just in my blood. I keep thinking of getting back into them by fixing up some cosmetically challenged homes and flipping them. I don't mind the projects as long as they're nearby, but I'm adamant about not wanting to have rentals again. In fact one of our homes here has an apartment with it, but I just cringe when I think of renting it. However, even with the "flipping", I hesitate right now with the economy the way it is. New York housing prices never dropped like the rest of the country, so I'm not sure there's really much profit to be made. House prices here are incredibly low, but our property taxes will kill you! Our little house is $4500/yr and our large house is $8500/yr and in several local areas, it's not uncommon for middle income folks to pay $12-13000K/yr. When you're having to pay that every single year, it's better to have the one time higher house price. Anyway, thanks for writing. I appreciate your input. :-) Enjoy your weekend, Teresa |
Rita sounds like a liberal, and you have every right to expect to be paid for your assets. My word. She was not nice and out of line. I also have had the unfortunate experience with a non compliant tenant after helping them, only she was a sister and it will never be the same. So to have her evicted I had a property manager take over, and I haven't had any problems since, and this has been for 5 years same tenants. Mind you I pay 10% to the manager, but it is worth every penny.
K. Maloney Maxwell |
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Thank you for the support. My parents also owned rentals which is how I got into them. I watched them put in a lot of hard work over the years, but also watched them retire from their full time jobs in their late 40's, which seemed very appealing at the time. I grew up earning my vacation money by painting rentals in the summer and on weekends, so I knew it was not a walk in the park. However... even my parents would agree that the quality of renter has changed since they first got into "the business". They still have a couple of houses left that they also sold on owner contracts that are coming back to haunt them as well. We live in a throw away society, where you use things up and move on. There seems to be no sense of accomplishment or achievement because everything is handed out by our government. Pride, courtesy, and respect are a thing of the past for these recipients. However, these people reap what they sow, and everyone pays the price in higher rental rates. It's funny you mention your dad being the softy. It's the same with my dad. I tried to evaluate tenants on their own merits and made stricter policies because of the lessons I learned along the way. My dad,however, to this day cannot say "NO". He still believes every excuse and sob story put in front of him. These tenants/buyers know it, ask specifically to speak to him, and then take full advantage. Mom will no longer let him talk to them because she ends up the one to get them out of the situations. It's nice that he has such a wonderful view of mankind, but unfortunately, that's not the reality. :-)
Thanks for writing. I hope that you and your family have a beautiful Christmas! Teresa |
I am going to drive by the house at some point within the next couple of days. I am an investor, and have recently purchased 5 homes in the area, unfortunately this economy hit me harder than most so my credit absolutely bites the dust, so I wont bother you with any sort of contract and what not. I just wanted to say that I found your post very interesting. People don't understand what we as landlords/investors go through. Everyone thinks I'm super rich because I own several homes, what they don't understand is most of them are financed, and I make $200 to $300 per house in rent. I don't get rich off of the houses, I make a small living, and hopefully some day will be able to sell these homes in a recovered market and possibly make a profit, all the mean while we maintain, improve, and update the homes as they need to be. January I had to put almost $10,000 into a house because the tenant let her parents move in with their 5 dogs and 9 cats.... WOW... So I do understand you plight, and definately agree, you cannot be a landlord from NY when the house is in Roseburg. You cannot even trust property management companies to take care of your home either. With all that said, I just thought I'd give you the FYI that I'm gonna go look at it.
Thank you very much, M. M. P.S. Have a very nice day. |
Hi M.
Thanks for the interest. It's nice to hear from someone who understands what it really means to be a landlord. In this economy you're probably lucky to be making $200-$300 off each rental. Here in NY, I'm not even sure you could break even because our taxes are so high. I see tenant's here whining about the rents, but I'm sure their payment barely covers the taxes, insurance, and utilities, let alone any kind of mortgage payment! You're a brave guy for sticking with it especially after the "5 dogs and 9 cats" episode. That's AWFUL!!! If you do drive by and think it's something you'd be interested in, please don't let the price scare you off. I'd really like to stop worrying about it from the other side of the country, so if you're use to paying under $60K and that works within your budget for a cash sale, then please make an offer. Again, thanks for writing and definitely get in touch if its something you'd like to explore further. Have a great weekend, Teresa |
dustinzgirl@xxxxxx
Comment: No, I do not think you DESERVED to have the houses destroyed and repaired. We lost everything and now the world of capitalism judges us harshly, very harshly. When I wrote that what two years ago (I had almost forgotten!) I was coming off of having to send my children to live with family in other towns because we were homeless and I wasn't going to let them suffer because I couldn't afford a home. So I might sound like a liberal, and I probably sound like an ass. I have worked and went to college and saved my money and tried but my family is still separated because of our poverty. We just can't seem to escape it and I don't know what we are doing wrong. We tried to save money but then my car broke and we spent that on a newer car. Then my grandma got sick and we moved in with her but long story short all my savings went to pay for her medicine and then her house was foreclosed because of some shady family members who were investigated by senior services but that didn't matter because once again my family was homeless, and now not only homeless but with a several year gap of rental references!! You quote the bible not to judge, and you are right I was entirely wrong in that. But I get judged all the time. Even if you were renting your home out and you saw my credit you would not rent to me at all. Nobody will. We have no criminal record and are not slobs and don't even have pets. But nobody will rent to us at all. You wouldn't. We are poor now, and we are judged harshly for being so. I don't think you have ever been as poor as we are because I think you have had a very blessed life and I am glad for you. I see what you have and although you are 10 years older than me we went to the same schools (well I am going to EOU but I went to UCC and majoring in psychology/business). I am not a cruel or bad person. In fact I volunteer and nobody I volunteer with knows that I live in an RV in my mom's front yard. Nobody knows that except a few people in my family because its embarrassing. I had a nice home and nice things and I didn't respect it enough. Now that I don't have those things I am so embittered and angry that there are people who do that it is hard to separate how I feel from the RIGHT way to feel. I miss having a real home and I miss my kids so much it hurts. I just wish that more people would recognize the struggles and understand more. I wish I would have thought about this when we were making good money and shared more. But we didn't. Thank you for your biblical quotes. You reminded me to stop being a whiner about my situations and not to be angry that the universe has chosen to bless others. I should not covet my neighbors belongings. |
In turn, I leave you with these:
Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:22 " . If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. . . . If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave." Leviticus 25:25, 35, 39 "However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you." Deuteronomy 15:4 "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15:7 "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11 "When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up and kills the poor and needy; in the night he steals forth like a thief." Job 24:14 "because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him." Job 29:12 "Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?" Job 30:25 "If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary." Job 31:16 "The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9 "But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish." Psalm 9:18 "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18 |
Hi Rita,
I appreciate your response and being willing to admit that it was not your position to judge. It takes a lot of moral character to do that. My heart truly goes out to you and the situation you are currently in and I can certainly understand wanting a better life. I also understand your resentment at feeling judged. That kind of thing angers me as well, but unfortunately you can't control the actions of others. It use to really upset me when I'd see my tenants buying brand new furniture, or driving nice cars, then telling me they couldn't make their rent payment... especially when I was buying my own furniture at Goodwill, driving a beater, and struggling to stay afloat. However, I no longer have the animosity towards these people that I use to because I know what I've been able to achieve. I now feel only pity for them as I see them living that same existence because they're not willing to change. I've never felt I needed anything fancy. I am quite content purchasing used items and I still continue that type of spending today. However, I also realize that not everyone ends up in bad circumstances because of frivolous spending and then expects handouts. For whatever reasons... it happens, and for those in that situation, I feel true compassion.
Yes, after hearing your story, I'm sure you can look at what I currently have and say I'm in a better place than you are right now. I cannot deny that... financially anyway. Although I now live a comfortable life, I'm not rich by any means, but feel truly blessed and appreciate what I have. However, I think I'm only capable of feeling that way because I have been at the bottom as well. I spent several years living in a 35 foot, one bedroom travel trailer with my ex-husband, his two kids, a dog and a rabbit. It wasn't necessarily where I wanted to be, but in my heart of hearts I also knew it wasn't permanent. I got a job and stuck with it. It took longer than we wanted because my ex frittered his money away on a drug habit, but... we still gradually moved up to a bigger trailer, finally bought a small house, then a rental, and finally several rentals. Although the finances were finally stable, as the saying goes... money does not buy happiness. It took me 20 years to realize that I wasn't going to change my ex. I still loved him, but drugs had control over his life and I needed to start over... for me. I'm now married to a very loving and stable guy which is worth more than any amount of money can buy.
I do have a lot of "stuff", but I often challenge people to look around my house and find ANYTHING that wasn't purchased at a garage sale, thrift store, off Craigslist, received from freecycle, or homemade... right down to my clothing. People think I'm a little weird for being so proud of my cheapness, but I am. I guess I just want to set an example and show people that you can have a lot without spending a lot. I can furnish an entire house for what some people pay for a TV. But, I think that's why I am where I am today. I'm willing to live within (and usually below) my means. Most of us are only a few paychecks away from poverty if we were to lose our jobs. It's happening to a lot of people who've been living pretty lavish lifestyles, so I've never felt so arrogant as to think it couldn't happen to me. We're all playing with house of cards and the rug could be pulled out from under us at any time. I feel almost a sense of relief in knowing that I could easily go back to living in that travel trailer if I needed to. I'm willing to make the most of what I have at any given moment and view those situations as temporary. As long as I have food and shelter, I've always felt like I could make it... even if it meant eating dollar burgers at Wendy's every night.
Would I wish for better if I were in that situation? Absolutely. You need to have a goal in mind to attain it. Little goals grow into bigger goals. But you can strive for something without giving into the bitterness of envy and jealousy towards those who already have it. There will always be those who have more. It would be nice to think that they all worked hard to get what they've achieved, but unfortunately some got lucky and some were born into into. Some are nice and try to help others. Some are not. I personally feel like it's living through those tough times that does make you truly appreciate what you have when you finally reach your goals and makes you more likely to reach out to others in need when you get there. But the fact is... no matter how people came to receive their wealth, it belongs to them. All the wishing in the world isn't going to change that. We can only change our own reality and hopefully some day, as we reach our own goals, we can be more understanding and helpful towards others. People love to talk about themselves. Try to solicit the knowledge of those who are successful and view them as mentors rather than the enemy. You may learn something and they will feel good for trying to help, which will in turn serve to reinforce those behaviors in them. It's a win-win for everyone.
We all need to step back and appreciate what we have at any given moment... because it really could be worse. Although I'm able to be thankful and appreciate where I'm at financially, the one thing I did take for granted was my health. The last 10 years of my life I've been in and out of the hospital a few times for an assortment of unexpected ailments . This year I spent all of December and January visiting emergency rooms and doctors for something as stupid as a kidney stone and missed the holidays entirely. Granted, basic food and shelter are necessary, but beyond that... possessions don't mean squat. Health and relationships are all important. Even if your finances aren't where you'd like them right now, there are still things you can be thankful for... while you're working on the rest. I would gladly give back my home and possessions if I could get back to a permanent state of health. I feel like I'd be rich beyond my wildest dreams to just to take long walks again without knee pain. I wouldn't care what type of home I was returning to as long as I was healthy, pain free, and my husband was waiting there with a hug. At least finances can be changed, but poor health will be a progressively worsening battle for most of us as we get older. Don't overlook what you do have.
Things DO change, maybe not as quickly as you'd like... but they do. Life takes so many twists and turns and in another ten years, I'm hoping you will also be back on solid footing. Don't allow the negativity to consume you in the mean time. I truly believe in Karma and the power of positive thinking. You say you studied psychology so I'm assuming you've heard of "self fulfilling prophecy":
"Any positive or negative expectation about circumstances, events, or people that may affect a person's behavior toward them in a manner that causes those expectations to be fulfilled. An employer who, for example, expects the employees to be disloyal and shirkers, will likely treat them in a way that will elicit the very response he or she expects."
I see so much of this going on in your letter when you say: "Even if you were renting your home out and you saw my credit you would not rent to me at all. Nobody will. Nobody will rent to us at all. You wouldn't." Without knowing me or any other landlord, you've already determined the outcome in your mind and that negativity will show through when you go to rent a place. I understand that you've heard "No" in the past and chances are it won't be the last time, but sometimes it is just a matter of meeting the right person at the right time and those first impressions we make are soooo important. If I had the means to rent a home or offer a job to two people with the same financial qualifications and the only difference is how they carry themselves.... I'd give it to the person who still has the positive outlook and is making the most of what they have... despite the crap hand that life may have dealt them. People want to help those who are striving, even though they may be struggling, not the ones who have given up. You're expecting the worst of these people. You have nothing to lose by expecting the best of them. It will not work with everyone every time, but a smile and willingness to work hard for what you want may be exactly what one of these landlords/employers needs to rise to the occasion and offer the helping hand you're seeking.
On a similar topic, just last week, I had a lady come into the gift shop where I work part time. She was looking for a stone with an inspirational message on it, because she'd just watched a DVD she rented from the library called "The Secret". Basically, it was about the power of positive thinking, and she absolutely radiated excitement about what she'd learned. Her enthusiasm rubbed off on me and I found myself wanting to rent it as well. I'm not perfect. I get bummed out when life throws me curves that I didn't see coming or don't particular want to deal with. This year alone I've experienced my mom being in a car accident, my husband losing his job and scrambling to find another, a car that decided to quit running for good, a leaky dishwasher, frig and roof, various medical issues and a house that won't sell. It's all too easy to get caught up in my own little pity party. I usually allow myself a day or so to feel sorry for myself, then I take a deep breath and tackle the situation full force. At these times it would be nice to have an inspirational "feel good" DVD to refer to and get me back on track. I plan to check my library for it next week. Maybe it's something you could check into as well. Here's a wikipedia link about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(book)
I appreciate the bible quotes you've included. They're a great reminder that no matter what our religious beliefs are, we should all be abiding by the Golden Rule of "Do unto others...". No matter where each of us is on the financial ladder, there is always someone who is worse off and we should try to help those who find themselves in less fortunate circumstances than our own. Not everyone has the means to give away a house... or even cash for that matter... especially when you're trying to keep your own head above the water. But donating a service or just sharing a kind word or smile can have far reaching effects. I design websites in my free time and typically charge $135. Even though it's way below the thousands of dollars charged by commercial designers, it's still more than some people can afford. Last year I created a website for a lady I'd met on Facebook who hand crafted wire trees. She didn't have the money to pay, but really needed a website to be able to sell her items. I volunteered to design one for her and told her that she could pay me with one of her sculptures. That was well over a year ago. She ended up having a number of medical issues come up and I just wrote my labor off as a good deed. Yesterday, out of the blue, I received a UPS shipment, with not one, but two of the most beautiful wire trees you've ever seen. It seriously brought me to tears. The truly good things in life are NOT about money and they will come back to you when we choose to pay it forward and help others when you can.
Ok... I've written way more than I intended, but really all I want to get across is NOT to lose hope. Although you've experienced some unpleasant setbacks, I can tell from your writing that you're an intelligent lady. Focus on the things with which you are currently blessed. Set small goals. Learn new skills. Keep volunteering and making contacts. The rest will eventually fall into place. I truly believe that. It may be a long road, with hurdles along the way, but you WILL get there! And... if you ever want to talk... or vent... please feel free to email me. I really do care. :-)
Teresa
And... then there are those who just enjoy the thrill of taking shots at others without any real purpose. I don't understand that mentality. I do understand that this home may not be up to the quality that some people want in a home. It's never been advertised as such and it's certainly not meant for the person that is unable to put in some work. But that being said, it has generated a lot of interest and offers. I realize that the only reason it's not sold yet is the need for a cash sale. For the right person it will be of value just in the rent the purchaser can generate from it... just as we did for years. I was a little taken aback when I received this response to my craigslist ad:
"Originally 85k...trying to sell the value of a bubble that never had any real worth is laughable. " While I hate to " burst his bubble", I was only basing my original price on the $92K that the tax office said it was worth. I DID get quite a few offers at that price, but they were in the form of owner contracts, so I've been lowering the price to the point where I can get a cash sale. Secondly I find the irony of his own statement laughable. His bubble analogy could easily be applied to mankind in general and is only a testament to his lack of value and worth as a human being. If you don't have anything nice to say, and your only purpose is to "hurt", then keep your mouth shut! And NO... I did not give him the dignity of a response. |